Devil May Cryseason 2 is coming soon, and it’s promising some big changes in how Dante is handled. As popular as the newDevil May Cryanime was, a major point of contention was Dante’s portrayal, as it made him far less competent a fighter who lost almost every fight he was in, something that even the angle of him being younger than in the games could hardly justify.
Dante’s portrayal was one ofthe many problems withDevil May Cry’s anime, but that’s poised to change in season 2.Series director Adi Shankar recently took to Xto address the criticism of Dante’s poor showing in season 1, and sure enough,Devil May Crydirector Adi Shankar confirms that Dante will get stronger in season 2 and become much closer to how he’s portrayed in the games. Some of Shankar’s comments still miss the point of Dante’s character, but at the very least, it’s still a good sign for the future ofDevil May Cry.
Why Dante Being A Badass Is So Important To Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry Doesn’t Work Without A Powerful Dante
Dante not being as powerful in the anime as he was in the games was a major point of contention, and it’s easy to see why. Dante being so overpowered perfectly leaned into the franchise’s penchant for goofy action schlock, but more than that, it made it far more impactful whenever he would lose or have a moment of genuine empathy, as it showed that even someone like Dante wasn’t completely above it all.Devil May Cry’s portrayal of a weaker Dante missed the point of the games’ aesthetic and characterization of Dante, and overall, that’s hard to deny.
All of that is why Adi Shankar’s comments are great to see. Whether Shankar is adjusting the show for the criticisms or if this was always the plan was unclear, but it’s obvious that he does understand that Dante can’t be the same as he was in season 1, soAdi Shankar’s comments about Dante show that he has at least some idea of how he needs to be handled inDevil May Cry, going forward. If executed properly, that could lead to a much stronger show, all-around, so it will be great to see how it all plays out.
Devil May Cry Season 2 Still Might Not Be Great, Even If Dante Is
Why Devil May Cry Season 2 Might Still Have Problems
As comforting as Adi Shankar’s comments about Dante are, they’re not as concise as one might think. In the aforementioned post on X, Shankar said that Dante is a compelling character not because he’s unstoppable, but because he learns and keeps getting stronger, and while that’s true to a certain extent, it still misses the point that people like Dante specifically because he’s overpowered. Add in how he didn’t address the criticism of Dante being overshadowed by Lady, andDante’s portrayal inDevil May Cryseason 2 might still have the problems of season 1, even if it’s better, overall.
More to the point, however, is that it doesn’t fix the issuesDevil May Cryseason 2will have to contend with. Season 2 will be following up on the massive and nonsensical changes to the narrative that most fans have already rejected, so unfortunately,Devil May Cryseason 2 might still not be fun to watch because of all the problems with season 1 and the show as a whole. With Adi Shankar’s comments about Dante, however,Devil May Cryseason 2 might be surprisingly good, so for now, it’s still something to look forward to.
Devil May Cry
Cast
Devil May Cry, released in 2025, follows a demon hunter as he battles to prevent a formidable adversary from unleashing Hell on Earth. This action-packed series delves into the supernatural, featuring an intriguing hero who must overcome otherworldly challenges to save humanity.
